That really hybrid plants are occasionally produced in 
a wild state there also can now be no doubt, after 
the very accurate observations of M. Guillemin and M. 
Auguste St. Hilaire. But we entirely agree with the for- 
mer Botanist, that though such productions are occasionally 
to be met with in wild nature, and indeed are sometimes, 
from particular and adventitious, but concurring causes, 
continually reproduced the same, yet that those produc- 
tions are necessarily very rare, because the combination of 
causes upon which they must depend is extremely fortui- 
tous. If, indeed, as some pretend, the number of natural 
species had increased by hybrid intermixture in any mate- 
rial degree, so as to be much greater at the present time 
than formerly, all Nature would have become confounded, 
‘as M. Guillemin justly observes, and there would be no 
longer a possibility of studying her in detail, because indi- 
vidual forms having been destroyed, particular distinctions 
would have ceased to exist; which is contrary to reason 
and experience. 
J. L. 
